Paige Bueckers entered Unrivaled, focused on making small but important changes to her game, drawing inspiration from NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The aim was to get to his ability to get to the free-throw line. The shift was deliberate. As her efficiency at the stripe improved, so did her overall impact, and the Breeze BC star has now been rewarded in a meaningful way for that commitment.

Late last year, Unrivaled added $50,000 to its prize pool. The tournament proposed a free-throw challenge for the first five games. As part of the challenge, the Unrivaled player who recorded the highest free-throw percentage across that period earned the newly added prize money. Paige Bueckers has now officially won the ‘bag’. 

Paige Bueckers powered the Breeze to an 83-64 win over Breanna Stewart and the Mist. Bueckers was on song with an Unrivaled career-high 37 points on 14-of-19 shooting. The rookie also filled the stat sheet with 5 assists and 6 rebounds. 

More importantly, concerning the $50,000, she went 2-2 from the free-throw line. Bueckers has shot 100% from the line, going 13-13 in five games. “I got some good plans, but no pocket watching over here? I’m gonna take care of it,” Bueckers said after the announcement. The fans naturally flooded social media with applause for the star. 

Cheers Erupt as Paige Bueckers Snags $50,000 Win at Unrivaled Free Throw Contest

“Those free throws have been stressing me out. Happy Paige Bueckers took that 50k prize home 😮‍💨,” wrote a fan. Well, those free throws have put Bueckers under more pressure than ever before. So much so, she was spotted praying not get any more by Skylar Diggins.

“I think I heard Paige in the training room earlier, saying she doesn’t wanna get fouled anymore,” Diggins said during the broadcast. Now that the prize is said and done, she can return to sharpening her ‘foul baiting.’

“Drinks on Paige Bueckers as she wins Unrivaled’s free throw challenge!” another fan commented. Bueckers has a history of treating her teammates after a win. When they won the national championship, Bueckers and the UConn squad ordered Wingstop via DoorDash the night of the big win. Paige even showed the actual DoorDash receipt later on, and it was hilariously mind-blowing.

Per the receipt, Paige ordered 400 boneless wing packs (which include large fries, veggie sticks, dipping sauces, and more) that totaled up to be $540.72. After winning 50k, she could order DoorDash again or take her team out for drinks for an even bigger party.

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“Never had a doubt in Paige. She can do EVERYTHING,” pitched in another. Bueckers was already the free-throw queen in college basketball and the WNBA. In 5 years at UConn, she shot 85% from the free-throw line. On the other hand, as a rookie with the Dallas Wings, she shot 88.8%. She can shoot from the midrange, from the three-point line, everywhere. 

“PAIGE BUECKERS MASTERCLASS!!! 50k richer!!!! DUB TONIGHT!!” wrote another fan. After a blazing start to the season, Breeze were in a short slump. They lost consecutive games to defending champions Rose, and then Rhyne Howard’s 30-point display for Vinyl blew the Breeze away.

Along with the free-throw prize win, this career game from Bueckers lifted the Breeze to 3-2 on the season, getting their campaign back on track. While most congratulated Bueckers on her win, some noticed that her winning prize was almost equivalent to her rookie salary. 

“Paige Bueckers just won a WNBA rookie salary-size cash prize in the free-throw challenge at Unrivaled,” commented a fan. Not quite, but you get the sentiment. Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, going to the Dallas Wings. Bueckers is set to earn just shy of $350,000 over the course of her four-year contract, which includes a base salary of about $79,000 for her rookie season. 

Just for a free-throw contest in an offseason 3v3 league like Unrivaled, she is getting 67% of that number. Bueckers is already earning more than that $350,000 in her first year at Unrivaled. This disparity further highlights the need for better CBA. The negotiations are ongoing. In the latest reported proposal, the players on minimum contracts will earn more than a quarter of a million dollars in the first year alone.